LABUAN: Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS) Labuan yesterday decided to suspend cooperation with DAP Labuan after a DAP leader made false allegation against its national president.
PAS Labuan president Hamir Zahari said DAP Bukit Bendera member of parliament Zairil Khir Johari’s allegation on Dato’ Seri Hj Abdul Hadi Awang was baseless and ‘mala fide’, or with malicious intention, to humiliate the national party president’s credibility.
Zairil, who is Penang Institute chief executive officer, made the claim in a news portal with the headline ‘Tujuh Dalil Kenapa Pakatan Tiada Masa Depan Kerana Hadi’ (Seven Facts Why Pakatan Has No Future With Hadi) published on March 22.
“Zairil alleged that he (Abdul Hadi) let seven parliamentary constituencies be represented by PAS at the last minute alongside PKR through letter of authorities (watikah) signed by him.
“Based on PAS’ system, all candidates representing the party will receive their letters of authorities signed by the party’s general-secretary, Dato’ Mustafa Ali and not the president.
“The Labuan parliamentary is a seat traditionally allocated to PAS where it has been agreed upon by Pakatan Rakyat since 1999. Therefore, there is no point for him to say that PAS backstabbed PKR at the last minute.
“We in PAS Labuan urge him to retract his statement and make an open apology within 48 hours after this response is made or published. If he fails to do so, we will proceed with legal action against him,” he said, adding that PAS Labuan had decided to suspend cooperation with DAP Labuan effective immediately.
Meanwhile, when asked on Sabah PKR chief Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin who affirmed on Saturday that PKR would defend their right to contest in Labuan in the next general election, PAS Labuan information chief Hadnan Hj Mohamad said that PAS Labuan had decided to give PKR a chance to stand against Barisan Nasional for a term in the last general election after their top level leadership agreed to do so, but they still could not win.
“After giving them their chance, they still could not prove it, even with a candidate holding a ‘Tan Sri’ title. What is he (Lajim) talking about? PKR leaders know that Labuan is supposed to be represented by PAS and if they are truly a coalition within Pakatan Rakyat, then they should have helped us win in the last general election.
“Even if the total number of votes for both PAS and PKR were combined together, Barisan Nasional still won. It means that the Labuan people are not just looking for a ‘Tan Sri’ title on a candidate, while the candidate representing Barisan Nasional then had yet to receive any title such as ‘Datuk’.
“After losing in the election, where is he now? Pakatan Rakyat supporters here keep asking for his whereabouts.
“Even before the election he was out of touch with his supporters. Only during the election was he present here,” he said, adding that a candidate who only rarely visited Labuan would not learn the issues faced by the people.
Hadnan further said that PAS Labuan is ready for the 14th General Election, which is expected to be held in 2017, and reaffirmed that the PAS central leadership have decided that a PAS candidate will stand against Barisan Nasional for the Labuan parliamentary constituency this coming general election.
“We did organise our working committee and we are committed to our struggle to help the Labuan people,” he said, adding that they did also organise their election machinery led by the Federal Territories PAS Commissioner.